Stereoscopic viewing of solar coronal and interplanetary activity
Abstract
The object of this presentation is to propose a concept for a space mission that would facilitate stereoscopic observations of the sun and interplanetary space, and to outline its scientific objectives. It is envisaged to place a spacecraft with a few lightweight telescopes, covering the wavelength range from the visible to the extreme UV, into orbit around the triangular libration point L5 of the sun-earth system. This point is also known as one of the Lagrangian points, which is in earth orbit around the sun, and lagging the sun-earth line by 60 degrees. A satellite (or perhaps more than one) with similar instrumentation is assumed to operate simultaneously in near earth orbit. Together, these observations would allow three dimensional viewing of the sun and interplanetary space. One of the main subjects of investigation would be to study the morphology and dynamics of coronal plasma structures and their extension into interplanetary space. Coronal structures would be imaged in EUV and soft X rays, while interplanetary events such as Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) and shock waves would be seen as density enhancements in white light. CMEs could be tracked from their start in the solar corona until their arrival and impact on the earth's magnetosphere. Thus the observations could also be used to predict major geomagnetic storms.
- Publication:
-
Advances in Space Research
- Pub Date:
- March 1996
- DOI:
- 10.1016/0273-1177(95)00602-B
- Bibcode:
- 1996AdSpR..17d.369S
- Keywords:
-
- Interplanetary Space;
- Mission Planning;
- Solar Corona;
- Solar Physics;
- Solar Terrestrial Interactions;
- Space Programs;
- Stereophotography;
- Earth Magnetosphere;
- Libration;
- Morphology;
- Solar Activity;
- Stellar Mass Ejection;
- Ultraviolet Astronomy;
- X Ray Astronomy;
- Solar Physics